Clamping means



J. C. ROSE CLAMPING MEANS Aug. 17, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1935 L 4. 3 d w 3 3 H 4%? flznnfar Jsis' 67 Rose.

Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNETE STATES PATENT EFEQ CLAMPING MEANS Application June 25,

Claims.

This invention relates generally to spot lamps such as are used in motion picture studios for illumination of sets, and more particularly to improved means for releasably clamping to the lamp 5 frame the front and rear ring members that carry the lens and reflector elements, respectively.

As is well known, it is frequently necessary to gain access to the interior of a studio spot light of the type mentioned, such as for the purpose of changing light globes, for example, and this is accomplished by removing or swinging open the front ring frame that carries the lens. It becomes necessary to perform the same operation in case the lens is to be changed, or a similar operation is performed at the back of the lamp if the reflector is to be removed for some purpose.

It is of course highly desirable that means employed for releasably clamping the lens and reflector ring frames in position on the lamp frame be characterized by simplicity and ease of manipulation, so that the time required for performance of the operations mentioned may be reduced to a minimum. It is further desirable that such clamping means be capable of holding the lens and reflector members firmly and securely in position when in operative position, and also that when in inoperative position, it will be entirely out of the way of the subseque it operations of removing the lens or reflector, as the case may be.

It may be stated as the general object of the present invention to provide a clamping device for the lens and reflector carrier members of a spot lamp, which embodies each of the advantages enumerated above.

The details of the invention itself will best be understood from the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof, reference for this purpose being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a lamp embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of a lamp embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the lamp of Figs. 1 and 2, taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken as indicated by line 4--4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken as indicated by line 55 of Fig. 2.

The lamp, designated generally by the numeral I0, is made up of front and rear ring frame members II and I2, respectively, formed with inward- 55 1y extending flanges i3 and i4. Mounted within 1935, Serial No. 28,274

flanges l3 and M are two substantially semi-cylindric shell or side wall members 86. Ring members II and I2 are connected together on each side by a pair of tie rods ll mounted in bosses l8 formed on ring flanges l3 and M. Sleeves I9 are placed on rods ll between the bosses, and nuts Ha are screwed on the ends of the rods and set up against the outer ends of the bosses. Mounted on ring flanges l3 and M, at the lower side of the lamp, is a case 20 which may enclose suitable lamp focusing and switch mechanism, not necessary here to illustrate. The lamp is trunnioned on the upper ends of arms 22, which are provided with trunnion mountings 23 and 24 adapted to support the lamp through tie members ll, I9.

The upper sides of ring frames H and I2 project upwardly somewhat to provide faces 25, on which the lens and reflector carrier rings may be supported. Ring frames ii and i2 are provided with annular openings i la and Na, respectively. Opening lid is adapted to receive the inwardly extending annular flange 3B of an annular lens carrier member 3!. The outer flange or rim 32 of member 3| engages the face of ring II when said member is in closed position, with flange 30 received within opening He, as shown in Fig. 2. A ring member 33 mounted on carrier 3| has an inwardly extending annular flange 34, and front lens member L of the lamp is supported between said flange 34 and annular flange 35 of carrier member 3!.

Carrier member 3! has at the top a pair of hinge members 31, which are mounted on a horizontal hinge pin 38 adapted to be removably carried by supporting hooks 35) mounted rigidly on the front surface 25 at the top of ring frame H. The lens carrier ring is mounted in position simply by placing hinge pin 38 in hook-supports 39, and allowing it to swing inwardly to the position of Fig. 2, with flange 3% received Within opening Ha and flange 32 in engagement with the front side of the ring frame.

A similar construction is employed at the rear of the lamp in the mounting of the carrier for the reflector member and rear closure. Thus, opening I 2a of ring frame I2 receives the inward- 1y extending flange 44 of an annular reflector carrier member 45. The outer flange or rim 46 of member 45 engages the face of ring l2. The curved reflector member 48 is carried by annular flange 44, as in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. A crowned closure member it is mounted on the rear face of flange t6 and forms the back of the lamp. Ring 45 has at the top hinge mom.-

bers 59 mounted on a hinge pin 5| which is adapted to be carried by supporting hooks 52 mounted rigidly on ring face 25.

Means in accordance with the present invention for releasably clamping the lens and reflector carrier members in position on the lamp will now be described.

Mounted on each side of the lamp, at a position approximately 120 degrees around the lamp from the top hinges of the lens and reflector carrier rings, is a horizontally disposed clamp supporting tube 60. Each of these tubes is mounted at its ends on mounting members BI secured to the flanges of ring frames II and I2, as by screws 62. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, each mounting 6| has a cylindrical boss 63 which receives and supports the end of tube 6!), screws 64 being used to secure the tube in proper position on said boss 63. As will be seen from the drawings, these mounting members 6| support tubes 60 in a position rather close to the side wall I6 of the lamp.

Formed in each mounting boss 63, concentrically with tube 69, is a bore 66 which slidably receives a clamp shaft, the shaft at the front end of the lamp being designated by numeral 6! and the shaft at the rear end of the lamp being designated at 61. The inner ends of said shafts 6! and 61 are slidably received within referred to as a bearing sleeve for the shaft, that expression implying a bearing for the shaft and a member surrounding the shaft and provided with a slot adapted to pass a handle mounted on the shaft, as later to be described.

The outer ends of rods 61 and 61 have rigidly mounted thereon laterally projecting clamp arms I9 and I3, respectively. These arms I and III are adapted to take positions of engagement with the lens carrier ring 3| and reflector carrier ring 45, respectively, (see arm I0 in Fig. 2 and the right hand arm I0 in Fig. 1), or, by rotation of shafts 61 and 61', to clear said carrier rings and to take retracted positions alongside the flanges of ring frames I I and I2 (see arm I9 in Figs. 2 and 3). In the first mentioned or clamping position, an inward projection 10a on the end of the clamp arm is in tight engagement with the outer face of. the carrier ring. In the second mentioned or release position, the clamp arm is in engagement with the outer end of its mounting 6| (Fig. 3), the outer end of mounting El being so located that the clamp is then opposite the side flange of its corresponding ring frame. For example, in Fig. 3 clamp arm I0 is shown in release position opposite flange I3 of ring frame II.

Shafts 61 and 6'! are provided intermediate their ends with heads or collars I and I5, and encircling each of said shafts and acting between its head I5 or I5, as the case may be, and the end of the corresponding mounting boss 63 is a compression spring 11. These compression springs acting against shaft heads I5 and I5 cause arms I0 and I9 to be pressed into clamping engagement with the outer faces of carrier rings 3I and 45, respectively, and also act to withdraw said arms to retracted position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, when said arms are turned so as to clear the carrier rings.

For the purpose of manual manipulation of shafts 67 and 61, said shafts are provided with laterally projecting operating arms or handles I9 and .9', respectively. As here shown, these arms are in the form of pins rigidly mounted in the previously mentioned shaft collars I5 and I5, respectively.

These handles I9 and I9 extend outwardly through the side wall of the tube through U- shaped slots 80 and 80, respectively, which are so disposed as to allow the necessary movement of the handles in moving the clamp arms between clamp and release positions.

Operation of a clamp device at the front end of the lamp will first be considered. The clamp arm I9 and manipulating arm or handle I9, in the present illustrative form of the invention, extend in opposite directions from shaft 61. This relation is well illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. U-shaped tube slot 80 has one longitudinally extending leg BI positioned to accommodate handle l9 when clamp arm I0 is turned to engage over the front of carrier ring 30, as it is at the right side of the lamp in Fig. 1. In this position, spring II is acting to force clamp arm I0 into tight engagement with the front face of the carrier ring. Approximately 90 degrees from slot leg BI, and on the underside of tube 60, is the other slot leg 82, and when handle I9 is in this last-mentioned leg, clamp arm I0 is turned outwardly through 90 degrees from the clamping position just mentioned and entirely clears the carrier ring (see the left hand clamp in Fig. 1), so that the clamp assembly is free to be moved by spring H to the full retracted release position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. This release position is shown in Fig. 4 in full lines, and the clamp position, with handle 19 in slot leg BI, is indicated in Fig. 4 in dot-dash lines.

The outer ends of slot legs BI and 82 are connected by a cross slot 33, through which handle I9 is moved for the purpose of rotating clamp arm Ill between clamp and release positions. It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the inner end of slot 82 is so positioned that it is engaged by handle I9 simultaneously with the engagement of clamp arm 10 with the outer end of mounting GI. Slot leg 8| is necessarily of suflicient length that handle I9 does not engage its inner end when clamping arm I0 is in clamping position against the carrier ring (note the position of handle I9 of the clamp device at the rear of the lamp, Fig. 2)

Thus in Fig. 2 and at the left in Fig. 1, the clamp device is shown in release position, handle 19 seating against the end of slot leg 82 and clamp arm I0 being in retracted position alongside of ring frame flange I3. To set the clamp against the lens carrier ring, handle 19 is grasped and moved forwardly, compressing spring 11 and sliding shaft 61 forwardly until clamp arm 10 clears the front side of carrier ring 3I and handle I9 is opposite cross slot 83. Handle 19 is then moved through cross slot 83, thereby rotating clamp arm I9 into clamping position opposite the front face of ring 35, and is then released and allowed to move rearwardly in slot leg 8| under the influence of spring 11, whereby clamp arm I9 comes into clamping engagement with the carrier ring. For convenience in accomplishing this operation, mounting member BI is provided with an outwardly projecting finger piece 86, which is so arranged that it may be used as a brace for the hand while handle 19 is grasped and pulled forward against spring 11. A reverse operation places the clampdevice back in release position (Fig. 3).

The clamp device is thus operable between clamp and release position by a very simple manipulation. It is especially to be noted that the clamp as described is compact in nature, and when in release position, is entirely out of the way of operations necessary to demount the lens carrier member.

Lamps of the present type are usually transported with the front lens member removed, and the clamp device is therefore normally in release position during transportation of the lamp. The clamp device is so designed that in such release position the clamp arm 10 and handle 19, which extend oppositely from shaft 61, are disposed in parallel relation to and lie closely adjacent the side wall id of the lamp. These members therefore do not project outwardly from the lamp when left in the described release position, and are therefore not likely to interfere with other lamps or become bent or broken during transportation.

It is usual that the back or reflector carrier of the lamp be left in place during transportation. The clamp devices at the back of the lamp are therefore so designed that manipulating handles ill lie close to the side of the lamp when clamp arms 10" are in clamping position. In the present illustrative form of the invention, clamp arm iii and manipulating handle 19' extend from shaft 61' at right angles to each other, as indicated in Fig. 5. U-shaped slot 80 is similar to slot 8f at the other end of the tube, having legs 8| and 82 spaced 90 degrees from each other on-the underside of the tube, and connected by a cross slot 83. When handle 19 is in slot leg 82, and is therefore substantially parallel with lamp side wall l6 (Fig. clamp arm W is in clamping engagement with the outer face of reflector carrier ring 45, as in Fig. 2; and when handle I9 is moved into slot leg 8 I clamp arm iii swings downwardly through 90- degrees 'to clear carrier ring 45 (see the dot-dash position in Fig. 5), handle 59 being moved by spring T1 to the inner end of slot leg 8!, and clamp arm m taking a retracted position alongside ring frame flange I4.

From the above detailed description it will be evident that I have provided a clamp device for the removable front lens and rear reflector carriers of a spot lamp that is simple in construction,

convenient to operate, and effective in service, and which at the same time is designed with the special view of avoiding obstructing projections from the lamp when in normal condition for transportation. When in clamping position, the device holds the carrier members very tightly and securely in place. To remove the front lens carrier from the lamp, it is only necessary to grasp handles 19 of the front clamp devices and move them from slot legs 8| downwardly to slot legs 8-2, and then to swing the lens carrier ring outwardly and lift it"from hooks 39 at the top of the lamp. The reflector carrier member at the rear end of the lamp is disassembled by a similar operation, as previously explained. And when the lamp is in normal condition for transportation (front lens removed and rear reflector clamped in place) the clamp arms and manipulating handles all take positions alongside the lamp casing.

It will be understood the drawings and description are to be considered merely as illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, since various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of said claims.

I claim:

1. In a studio spot lamp having a substantially cylindric housing provided with an annular opening in one end, and an annular optical element carrier member removably mounted against the lamp end in alinement with said annular opening, a clamp device for said removable carrier member comprising a clamp shaft disposed outside and closely adjacent the wall of the cylindric housing and extending parallel to the axis of said housing, a bearing sleeve supporting said shaft on the lamp housing for movement along and for rotation about the longitudinal shaft axis, a clamp arm on the forward end of said shaft adapted to be moved by rotation of the clamp shaft to take a position of engagement over the outer side of the carrier member when said carrier member is mounted on the lamp housing, said clamp arm clearing the carrier member when the clamp shaft is rotated to a release position, a spring within the bearing sleeve acting on the clamp shaft to press the clamp arm into firm engagement with the carrier member and thereby hold the carrier member against the end of the lamp housing, and a handle member extending laterally from said clamp shaft, said handle member being disposed in a given angular relation with reference to the clamp arm, and said bearing sleeve having a slot passing said handle and shaped to allow the handle to be manipulated to move the clamp shaft and arm between a position of engagement with the carrier member and a release position in which the clamp arm clears the carrier member.

2. In a studio spot lamp having a substantially cylindric housing provided with an annular opening in one end, and an annular optical element carrier member removably mounted against the lamp end in alinement with said annular opening, a clamp device for said removable carrier member comprising a clamp shaft disposed outside and closely adjacent the wall of the cylindric housing and extending parallel to the axis of said housing, a bearing sleeve supporting said shaft on the lamp housing for movement along and for rotation about the longitudinal shaft axis, a clamp arm on the forward end of said shaft adapted to be moved by rotation of the clamp shaft to take a position of engagement over the outer side of the carrier member when said carrier member is mounted on the lamp housing, said clamp arm clearing the carrier member when the clamp shaft is rotated to a release position, a spring within the bearing sleeve acting on the clamp shaft to press the clamp arm into firm engagement with the carrier member and thereby hold the carrier member against the end of the lamp housing, and a handle member extending laterally from said clamp shaft, said handle member being disposed in a given angular relation with reference to the clamp arm, said bearing sleeve having a U-shaped slot passing said handle, the legs of said slot extending parallel to the clamp shaft and in a direction away from the clamp arm end of said shaft, one of said legs being so positioned that when the clamp shaft handle is disposed therein the clamp arm is in a position of engagement with the carrier member, and the other leg being so positioned that when said handle is moved thereto through the connecting portion of the U-slot from the first mentioned leg, the clamp arm is removed from a positionopposite the carrier member to a release position in which the carrier member is cleared.

3. In a studio spot lamp having a substantially cylindric housing provided with an annular opening in one end, and an annular optical element carrier member remo-vably mounted against the lamp end in alinement with said annular opening, a clamp device for said removable carrier member comprising a clamp shaft disposed outside and closely adjacent the wall of the cylindric housing and extending parallel to the axis of said housing, a bearing sleeve member supporting said shaft for movement along and for rotation about its longitudinal axis, said bearing sleeve member terminating short of the end of the lamp that is provided with said carrier member, a clamp arm on the forward end of said shaft adapted to be moved by rotation of the clamp shaft to take a position of engagement over the outer side of the carrier member when said carrier member is mounted on the lamp housing, said clamp arm clearing the carrier member when the clamp shaft is rotated to a release position, a spring within the bearing sleeve acting on the clamp shaft to press the clamp arm into firm engagement with the carrier member and thereby hold the carrier member against the end of the lamp housing, and a handle member extending laterally from said clamp shaft, said handle member being disposed in a given angular relation with reference to the clamp arm, said bearing sleeve having a U-shaped slot passing said handle, the legs of said slot extending parallel to the clamp shaft and in a direction away from the clamp arm end of said shaft, one of said legs being so positioned that when the clamp shaft handle is disposed therein the clamp arm is in a position of engagement with the carrier member, and the other leg being so positioned that when said handle is moved thereto through the connecting portion of the U-shaped slot from the first mentioned leg, the clamp arm is removed from a position opposite the carrier member to a retracted release position in which the lamp housing is cleared and in which the clamp arm is disposed opposite the cylindric side of the lamp housing.

i. In a studio spot lamp having a substantially cylindric housing provided with an annular opening in one end, and an annular optical element carrier member removably mounted against the lamp end in alinement with said annular opening, a clamp device for said removable carrier member comprising a clamp shaft disposed outside and closely adjacent the wall of the cylindric housing and extending parallel to the axis of said housing, a bearing sleeve member supporting said shaft for movement along and for rotation about the longitudinal shaft axis, a clamp arm on the forward end of said shaft adapted to be moved by rotation of the clamp shaft and to take a position of engagement over the outer side of the carrier member when said carrier member is mounted on the lamp housing, said clamp arm clearing the carrier member when the clamp shaft is rtated to a release position, a spring within the bearing sleeve acting onthe clamp shaft to press the clamp arm into firm engagement with the 'tion.

carrier-member and thereby hold the "carrier member against the end of the lamp housing, and a handle member extending laterally from said clamp shaft, said handle member being disposed in a given angular relation with reference to the clamp arm, said bearing sleeve having a U-shaped slot passing said handle, the legs of said slot extending parallel to the clamp shaft and in a direction away from the clamp arm end of said shaft, one of said legs being so positioned that when said handle is moved thereto through the connecting portion of the U-slot from the first mentionedleg, the clamp arm is removed from a position opposite the carrier member to a retracted release position opposite and alongside thecylindric side of the lamp housing, the clamp arm and shaft handle extending from the clamp shaft at substantially 180 from each other and the handle slot being so disposed that said shaft handle and clamp arm take positions substantially parallel to the cylindric side of the lamp housing when placed in said release posi- 5. Ina studio spot lamp having a substantially cylindric housing provided with an annular opening'in one end, and an annular optical element carrier member removably mounted against the lamp end in alinement with saidannular opening, a clamp device for said removable carrier member comprising a clamp shaft disposed outside and closely adjacent the wall of the cylindric housing and extending parallel to the axis of said housing, a bearing sleeve member supporting said shaft for movement along and for rotation about the longitudinal shaft axis, a clamp arm on the forward end of said shaft adapted to be moved by rotationof the clamp shaft to take a position ofengagement over the outer side'of the carrier member when said carrier member is mounted on the lamp housing, said clamp arm clearing the carrier member when the clamp shaft is rotated to a release position, a spring within the bearing sleeve acting on the clamp shaft to press the clamp arm into firm engagement with the carrier member and thereby hold the carrier a handle member extending laterally from said clamp shaft, said handle member being disposed in a given angular relation with reference to the clamp arm, said bearing sleeve having a U- shaped slot passing said handle, the legs of said slot extending parallel to the clamp shaft and in a direction away from the clamp arm end of said shaft, one of said legs being so positioned that when said handle is moved thereto through the connecting portion of the U-slot from the first mentioned leg, the clamp arm is removed from a position opposite the carrier member to a retracted release position opposite and alongside the cylindric side of the lamp housing, the clamp arm and shaft handle extending from the clamp shaft at substantially 90 from each other,

45 member against the end of the lamp housing, and

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2 090 510'. v Au st 17 19 7. JESS c. ROSE. gu 5 It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page L first column, line 62,-, claim 11., strike out the word "and"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this'correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of October, A. D. 1957.

Henry .Van Arsdale, (seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

